Mothers Day in Peru

Mother's Day is a little different down here. All the talks are not about Mother's. There's no primary children singing in Sacrament meeting. No chocolates or flowers are handed out. But there sure is a party on Saturday that the whole barrio is invited to!

The priesthood were in charge of preparing the food and they did serve us sisters well. I, however, earned my meal that day.

The Elder's Quorum President called me up that morning in a panic saying he had no clue how to decorate for this thing. He asked me if I had any ideas and I was like, "I don't know. Flowers?" Poor guy. I finally asked if he needed help setting up and he greatly accepted my offer. He also said they needed more bowls to prepare the food and I was like, "Oh that's easy. You just go ask all your female friends to borrow theirs."

So after some bowl collecting, last minute shopping, and some flower arranging, this is the end result.

That big flower arrangement in the middle I am so proud of. And I recruited one of the primary girls to help me with the smaller ones. 

All I can say is he owes me big time!

Latest from Lima

I'm telling ya, this country is full of surprises. In some ways I am getting kind of tired of it. 

I am still waiting for my work permit to get processed. Words from the natives is that could take 4-6 months. Well, it was started in February, so I guess I am on schedule as far as Peruvian time goes. Fortunately I am still working, which is helping me keep my sanity. My current students are as follows: A family of young boys, a 16 year old girl who is heading to the US to study for a year in high school in August, and two other young boys through the tutoring company I work for. 

But now I am to embark on another epic journey.......teaching piano. There's very few pianists down here. Well that in part may be due to there are very few teachers down here and very few pianos. It started with a sister in my ward. Then her friend wants me to teach her daughter. Goodness knows where this is going to lead to. 

And that leads me to my next bit of news. I moved. Gabi and Mari's brother and his family were coming to Lima to have a baby. I guess the town where they live doesn't have an abundance of doctors, so they decided to come here. That and his wife's family is here and they already have a two year old girl. 

So they came and stayed for a month in an apartment. Their parents came also to help out and stayed with us...............for a month. 

Now I actually like their parents. But after three weeks it just got so crazy with five adults in a three bedroom place, a two year old niece and her brothers family popping in every once in awhile. And Mari and Gabi were stressed out also. I heard fights between them and their mom, and then between Gabi and Mari. I basically wanted to go somewhere else where I was not going to have to deal with this situation because really, I thought that was asking a lot of someone. 

When I told Mari I was moving out, she was actually relieved. I guess Gabi and her were thinking they wanted the place back to themselves as they had a lot of clutter they just didn't have room for. She said Gabi and her hesitated because they really liked me, but they were thinking possibly in August of asking me if I would consider going somewhere else. She told me they won't be renting out the room long term again and if for any reason I needed to come back, I was welcome. 

So now I am with Carmen. She is Peruvian. Very sweet and we are so quiet and boring. She actually reduced the rent if I promised to give her piano lessons. I am also a block away from the beach. Which means I get that fun cold sea breeze constantly.  

Stake Conference is tonight. I have been tortured by the choir for the last two and a half months as I have been accompanying them in rehearsals (singing is not Latin Americans strength). Me playing for Stake Conference and now teaching piano. You can tell they are desperate down here.